Heater for material dispensed from a container



March 19, 1968 A. B. LOWRY 3,373,904

HEATER FOR MATERIAL DISPENSED FROM A CONTAINER Filed May 5, 1966 2SheetsSheet l 42 |o3 IO3A\ ,loz

I 12o 1 I08 lol 40 94 F/G 76 i 96 /72 93 I I l March 19, 1968 A B, LOWRY3,373,904

HEATER FOR MATERIAL DISPENSED FROM A CONTAINER Filed May 5, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I I @6 IO! [04 United States Patent Ofiice 3,373,904HEATER FOR MATERIAL DISPENSED FROM A CONTAINER Alan B. Lowry, Canton,Mass., assignor to The Gillette Company, Boston, Mass, a corporation ofDelaware Filed May 5, 1966, Ser. No. 547,898 18 Claims. (Cl. 222-146)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A heat exchanger for an aerosol soapdispensing package includes an aluminum chamber 1.35 inch in diameter,of 0.025 inch wall thickness in which is disposed a mass of aluminumshot at least 0.050 inch in diameter which is compressed to a density of85% of solid aluminum and a resulting height of 0.42 inch, Discs ofexpanded aluminum are positioned above and below the compressed mass ofshot. The inlet of the chamber is connected via a sleeve coupling to thevalved outlet of the pressurized dispensing package and the 0.100 inchdiameter outlet of the chamber opens into a larger rectangular dischargenozzle. The sleeve coupling has a flange which is engaged by a fulcrumedactuator lever which, when moved down, opens the packages valve. Inlatched position the enlarged end of the actuator lever fits tightlyinto the heat exchanger support shroud to minimize entry of andaccumulation of moisture within the shroud.

This invention relates to dispensing packages and to actuatorarrangements and to heat exchangers for use with such packages.

In recent years there has been Widespread consumer acceptance ofpressurized dispensing packages of the aerosol type in which a productheld within a container is dispensed in a controlled manner under thepressure of a propellant gas. An example of such a product is foam typeshaving cream which is produced from an aqueous colloidal dispersion ofsoap that is stored with a propellant gas in a valve controlled,pressure type container. That product as it is dispensed from thecontainer is converted into foam condition and applied to the skindirectly. Upon discharge of the product, the propellant expands togenerate the foam and such expansion, frequently supplemented by anevaporation of the propellant, produces a cooling efiect on the product.In the case of a shaving cream product the temperature of the shavingcream has an effect on the comfort and efiiciency of shaving.Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide novel andimproved apparatus for heating shaving cream as it is dispensed from apressurized package.

A number of devices have been proposed for heating such products as theyare dispensed from pressurized packages including devices for heatingpressurized shaving cream. Such devices, however, have, in general,either imparted insufficient heat to the product being dispensed due toan inefficient heat transfer relationship, or have not been completelysatisfactory from a commercial standpoint due to such factors as cost ofmanufacture and/or unreliability in operation. A number of attempts3,373,904 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 required to dispense an adequate amountof product for its intended use. Accordingly, another and more generalobject of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for dispensinga product from a pressurized dispensing package in warm condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact and efiicientheat exchanger unit for a dispensing package that is economical tomanufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved aerosoltype shaving cream package with a heat exchange structure in a compactand easy to operate unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedactuator arrangement for a pressurized dispensing package.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a heat exchangerdevice for transferring heat to or from a product as that productemerges from the outlet of a dispensing package. The device includes achamber that has an inlet receiving the product from the package, anoutlet for discharging the product from the chamber and an annularthermally conductive wall between the inlet and the outlet. Amultiplicity of inert, thermally conductive bodies are disposed in thechamber in firm, frictional thermally conducting engagement with one another to form an integrated mass in thermally conducting engagement withthe internal surface of the chamber wall. The frictionally engaged bodesdefine a multiplicity of connected passageways between them that extendbetween the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet. The chamber and massof thermally conductive bodies may be rapidly heated or cooled byexposing the chamber to an appropriate temperature source. The productto be dispens d is then released from the package for flow through thechamber. That product contacts a series of temperature conditionedbodies as it flows through the chamber and substantial heat transferwith the product is accomplished in an efiicient manner. The lengths ofthe passages are preferably relatively short so that a minimum delay isimposed on delivery of the product.

In a particular embodiment the thermally conducting bodies are metalspheroids of similar dimensions which are distorted under pressure intofirm engagement with one another and with the chamber wall and provide aheat exchanger structure having a multiplicity of random passagesextending between the chamber inlet and outlet.

More specifically in a preferred form of heat exchanger structure thespheroids are of substantially pure aluminum and have diameters withinthe range 0.0500.100 inch. These spheroids in that embodiment are placedin an aluminum chamber structure and compressed about 30% producing adegree of distortion while forcing them into firm mechanical andthermally conductive engagement with one another. Preferably employed inthe chamher on either side of the mass of compressed metal spheres aremetal screen members which act as barriers to retain the spheroids inposition while acting as flow distributors for the product applied tothe chamber.

The chamber, in a particular embodiment, is secured in fixed relation onthe pressurized container by a support structure that houses a valveactuator assembly. A tubular inlet of the heat exchanger chamber isdisposed in spaced aligned relation with a tubular container outlet anda sleeve bridges the gap between the two tubular members. An actuatorcooperates with the sleeve to move it downwardly under manually appliedforce to open the container outlet while maintaining the bridge betweencontainer outlet and chamber inlet. The actuator is movable between alatch position (suitable for shipping for example) and a releasedposition in which it is easily operated (through benefit of mechanicaladvantage) to release the product to be dispensed from the container.For facility in assembly and reliability in operation, the sleeve in thepreferred embodiment includes a conical recess in its base whichterminates in a seat for receving the tubular container outlet and abore in its upper end which receives a sliding relation an enlarged beadformed on the downwardly projecting chamber inlet tube. A restrictedpassage connects the bore and the seat portions of the sleeve and ashoulder on the sleeve cooperates with the actuator which impartsdownward movement to the sleeve to open the container outlet whilemaintaining the enclosed connection between the container and thechamber.

Other objects, features and advantages will be seen as the followingdescription of a particular embodiment of the invention progresses inconjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressurized dispensing package thatincorporates a control arrangement and a heat exchanger structureconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the upper portion of the dispensingpackage illustrating details of the control arrangement and the heatingstructure attached to it;

FIG. 3 is 'a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the controlarrangement in the unlatchcd (or working) position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 showingdetails of the control arrangement employed in the dispensing package;

FIG. 5 is a view showing components of the dispensing package in spacedrelation; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 indicate steps in the process of forming the heatexchanger structure employed in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the dispensing package includes ametallic pressure container 10 of conventional configuration having atop wall 12 connected to the cylindrical side wall 14 by means of bead16. An annular ridge 1 8 is provided in the top wall and centrallylocated in the top wall of the container is a valve structure thatincludes an upwardly projecting tubular actuator element 22.

The base of a cylindrical actuator housing is secured on bead L6 andreceives an actuator member 32 which is arranged for movement between alocked position (in which actuator handle 34 is positioned in housingaperture 36) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a withdrawn (operative)position as shown in FIG. 3. Above the fixed actuator housing 30 is aheat exchanger structure that includes a chamber 40 of thermallyconductive material, a preferred material being aluminum. Above thechamber 40 is a nozzle structure 42 that has an outlet orifice 44 (FIG.2) through which the product to be dispensed from the package is ejectedupon operation of the actuator.

Additional details of the actuator structure and the heat exchangerstructure may be seen with reference to FIG. 2. The actuator housing 30may be made of a high density polyethylene and includes a dependingannular skirt having an inwardly projecting bead 52 at its lower end.Above the ski-rt is a horizontal annular surface 54 which seats on theupper end of bead 16 and a frustoconical actuator housing body 45 whichreceives the valve actuator assembly. The upper port-ion of body 56forms a cap structure 58 to which is secured the metallic wall member'60 of heat exchange structure 40. The top wall 62 of the actuator capis imperforate and its upper surface may include a series of radiallyextending flow distribution ridges or channels. Depending from wall 62is tubular member 64 that has an annular ridge or bead portion 66 at its4 seat on which is received the stem 22 of the valve unit. Coaxial withrecess 76 is a passage 77 which may be sized for flow control purposesand which opens into an enlarged bore 78 in which the depending tubularmember 64 is received.

Resting on shoulder 73 of sleeve 70 is the actuator member 32 which, asindicated in FIG. 4, has a slot in the form of aperture 80 for receivingthe sleeve which has a reduced center section formed by projections 82,84 which cooperate with sleeve 70 to provide two positions ofadjustment, a latched position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and a second(released) position as indicated in FIG. 3. At one end of actuator anenlarged member is handle 34 which has inclined lower surfaces 88, whichcooperate with the lower surface 91 of aperture 36 in the wall of thehousing to provide an aperture shield that serves to minimize entry ofliquid while allowing circulation of air through vent 92 to minimizeaccumulation of moisture and condition of high humidity when theactuator is in latched position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. At theopposite end of the actuator is an upstanding ridge or web 93 which isreceived in recess 94 when the actuator is in position shown in FIG. 2.This web 93 cooperates with surface 96 when the actuator is in theposition shown in FIG. 3 which acts as a fulcrum about which theactuator is pivoted to operate the valve 22, as indicated in FIG. 3.Thus it will be seen that this actuator assembly provides an actuatorstructure which in latched position effectively shields the actuatorhousing against the entry of water, which is easy and reliable inoperation, and which is positively positioned in either latched orreleased position by the cooperation of slot 80 and sleeve 70. Theactuator sleeve cooperates with the bead 66 on the tubular entrancepassageway to the heat exchange chamber to provide an annular linesurface of contact which accommodates tilting of sleeve 70 relative tothe inlet stern 64 during operation for example. Also the structurefacilitates assembly of several components into their intendedrelationships utilizing mass production manufacturing and assemblytechniques. Modifications of this actuator arrangement obviously may beemployed, for example, a separate camming device may be employed to movethe actuator member between its locked position and its releasedposition or the stub channel 64 may surround sleeve 70.

The heat exchanger structure 40, as indicated above, includes analuminum cup 60 (the wall of which is preferably at least 0.025 inch inthickness) in which is disposed a mass of compressed metallic shot thatprovides a multiplicity of random flow passages. This cup member 60 isof the configuration indicated in FIG. 6 and includes an upper flange100- and a lower wall which includes horizontal section 101 and conicalsection 102 which conforms to a die 104 in which the cup is received.Conical section 102 has an inner portion 103 which, in initial forming,is disposed parallel to horizontal section 101 and then is bent intoconical configuration; producing a region of weakness at transition103a. Upwardly projecting post 106 of die 104 passes through theaperture in section 102 when the cup 60 disposed in the die, and in thatposition a first screen (retainer) 108 in the form of a disc of expandedaluminum 0.035 inch in thickness and of 20 mesh size is positioned onpost 106. Aluminum shot 110 (of 99.5 to 99.9% purity and preferably ofsubstantially uniform particle size) is loaded into the cup 60. Thediameter of these pellets or spheroids 110 should be less than 0.250inch and preferably less than 0.100 inch. For adequate heat transfercharacteristics, flow characteristics and convenience in handling it ispreferred that the shot be at least 0.050 inch in diameter. A similarsecond retainer sheet of expanded aluminum 112 is placed on top of theload of shot and then pressure is applied by suitable means such asplunger 114 to eifect about a one-third compression of the shot to apredetermined depth. This compression forces the shot particles intofirm frictional engagement and distorts the lower retainer plate 108 tothe configuration shown in FIG. 7.

In a preferred embodiment the exchanger cup 60 weighs 4.8 grams, theexchanger shot 110 weighs 17 grams and the retainer plates 108, 112weigh 0.80 gram each. Thus the total mass or aluminum in the exchangeris 23.4 grams in a cylinder 1.35 inch in diameter and 0.42 inch deep andthat mass has a density of about 85% of solid aluminum.

This fabricated heat exchanger component is then removed from die 104,inverted, and secured to the actuator housing 30 by suitable means suchas peening or crimping the surface adjacent flange 100 inwardly in thegroove of the upper portion of that housing to the position shown inFIG. 2. A nozzle structure 42 is then snapped over the aperture in thewall 102 of the housing 60 forcing the conical wall 103 down to itsinitially formed position with the inner edge of section 103 firmlygripping the notch 120 in the. nozzle base in the position shown in FIG.2 to complete the structure. The nozzle includes a restricted passage122, 0.100 inch in diameter, which opens into a large rectangulardischarge section 124.

In operation the heat exchanger is immersed in a heat source for a shortperiod of time to warm the chamber and the shot. After removal of theheat exchanger from the heat source, actuator 32 is pulled out from itslatched position (FIG; 2) to the position shown in 'FIG. 3 and presseddownwardly as indicated in FIG. 3. That action moves sleeve 70 down andacts on the valve actuator 22 to open the valve of the pressurizedcontainer and allow the shaving cream product to flow up through thesleeve, 70 and into the inlet of the heat exchanger for passage throughthe multiplicity of paths between the shot 110 therein, to the outlet ofthe structure to the nozzle 42 for discharge in warm foamed conditionthrough the exit orifice 44. For example, a 25 cc. quantity of shavingcream is increased to an average temperature of 118 to 122 whendischarged through 0.018 inch orifice of the container affter the abovedescribed particular form of heat exchanger structure has been heldunder a constantflow of tap water at 140 F. for a period of 10 toseconds.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, various modifications thereof will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and therefore it is not intended that the inventionbe limited to the disclosed embodiment or to details thereof anddepartures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger device for subjecting a product to a heat transferoperation as that product emerges from the outlet of a dispensingpackage comprising a chamber having an inlet for receiving the productfrom said package, an outlet for discharging the product from saidchamber, and a thermally conductive wall between said inlet and saidoutlet,

and a multiplicity of inert, thermally conductive spheroidal elements infirm frictional engagement with one another forming a mass having amultiplicity of passages therethrou-gh, said spheroidal elements havingbeen subjected to compressive distortion to form said mass such thatsubstantial surface areas of each said spheroidal element are in contactwith immediately adjacent spheroidal elements, thus providing amultiplicity of thermally conductive paths across the chamber generallyperpendicular to said multiplicity of passages, said mass being disposedin said chamber in thermally conductive engagement with said chamberwall with said passages providing flow paths between said chamber inletand said chamber outlet.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chamber wall and saidelements are of essentially the same material.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elements are solidmetal bodies which, before compression, were of essentially the sameconfiguration.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the elements have adimensional range between 0.050 inch and 0.250 inch.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 further including a foraminous fiowdistributor member disposed between said mass of fricti-onally engagedelements and said inlet and a second foraminous flow distributor memberdisposed between said mass and said chamber outlet.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 and further including a pressurizedpackage having an upstanding element defining an outlet passageway and aseparate coupling for connecting said outlet passageway directly to saidchamber inlet for applying the contents of said pressurized packageimmediately on release from said pressurized package to said chamberinlet.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and further including an actuatorfor moving said coupling and said outlet passageway defining element torelease the product stored in said package for passage through saidchamber.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said chamber inlet includesa projecting stub portion which defines an inlet passage and said outletpassageway defining element is also a projecting stub and said couplingis a sleeve that connects said two projecting stubs together, saidsleeve being slidable relative to one of said stubs to open said packageoutlet passageway while maintaining a passageway between said packageand said chamber.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8 further including an actuatorelement mounted on said sleeve and a support structure on said packagecooperating with said actuator element enabling said actuator element tobe positioned in a latched position and to be moved from said latchedposition to an operative position in which sliding movement may beimparted to said sleeve to open said package outlet passageway.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said support structureincludes a rigid housing member on which is mounted said chamber infixed spaced relation to said package, said housing member having anaperture in its wall for receiving a handle portion of said actuatorelement, said handle portion, when said actuator element is in saidlatched position, blocking said housing member wall aperture to minimizeentry of liquids into the space defined by said housing member.

11. A pressurized, aerosol-type foam-product dispensing packagecomprising a container for supply of a liquid colloidal dispersion of avolatile propellant in the product to be dispensed,

a valve in the upper end of said container,

an upstanding tubular valve actuator element projecting above saidcontainer,

a tubular stub defining a product discharge passageway, saii stub havingan annular bead adjacent its lower en a stub support structure securedto said container supporting said stub in fixed spaced aligned relationto said valve actuator element,

a coupling sleeve having a conical recess at its lower end terminatingin an actuator element seat, an annular surface at its upper end forreceiving said stub bead in sealing relation and a restricted controlpassage between said seat and said bore,

said sleeve bridging the space between said stub and said actuatorelement with said seat portion disposed on the end of said actuatorelement and said stub bead in engagement with said sleeve surface,

and a manual operator for moving said sleeve axially towards saidcontainer for moving said actuator element to open said valve while saidstub bead remains in sealing engagement with said sleeve surface to dis-7 pense the product held in said container through said stub.

12. The package as claimed in claim 11 wherein said support structureincludes a wall member which defines a housing in which said couplingsleeve is disposed, said wall member having an aperture therein,

and said operator has an enlarged handle portion adapted to bepositioned in said aperture, said operator being latched in inoperativeposition when said handle portion is positioned in said supportstructure wall aperture.

13. The package as claimed in claim 11 wherein said support structureincludes a fulcrum surface,

said sleeve includes a shoulder against which said operator acts, and

said operator is movable between an inoperative position and anoperative position in which one end of said operator engages saidfulcrum surface and an intermediate portion thereof engages said sleeveshoulder.

14. The package as claimed in claim 11 and further including a heatexchanger structure comprising a chamber having an inlet connected tosaid tubular stub for receiving the product to be dispensed from saidcontainer, an outlet for discharging the foam product from said chamber,and an annular thermally conductive wall between said inlet and saidoutlet,

and a multiplicity of inert, thermally conductive spheroidal elements infirm frictional engagement with one another forming a mass having amultiplicity of passages therethrough, said mass being disposed in saidchamber in thermally conductive engagement with said chamber wall withsaid passages providing flow paths between said chamber inlet and saidchamber outlet for the foam product dispensed from said package.

15. A pressurized, aerosol type shaving cream product dispensing packagecomprising a container for a supply of a liquid colloidal dispersion ofa volatile propellant in a shaving cream product to be dispensed,

a chamber mounted on said container, said chamber having an inlet forreceiving the shaving cream product from said container, an outlet fordischarging the shaving cream product from said chamber, and a thermallyconductive sheet metal wall between said inlet and said outlet,

and a multiplicity of inert, thermally conductive solid metal spheroidsin firm mechanical engagement with one another forming a mass having amultiplicity of passages therethrough, said spheroids having beensubjected to compressive distortion to form said mass such thatsubstantial surface areas of each said spheroids are in contact withimmediately adjacent spheroids, thus providing a multiplicity ofthermally conductive paths across the chamber generally perpendicular tosaid multiplicity of passages, said mass of metal spheroids beingdisposed in said chamber in thermally conductive engagement with saidchamber wall with said passages providing flow paths between saidchamber inlet and said chamber outlet for the shaving cream productdispensed from said container.

16. The package as claimed in claim 15 wherein said metal spheroids arealuminum, said spheroids having been subjected to a compressivedistortion of about onethird.

17. The package as claimed in claim 16 wherein said spheroids have aminimum diameter of 0.050 inch.

18. The package as claimed in claim 17 and further including a nozzlestructure having a passage restriction of cross-sectional area smallerthan the cross-sectional area of said flow parts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,962,221 11/1960 Kunz 239-132.53,095,122 6/1963 Lewiecki et al. 222-446 3,144,174 8/1964 Abplanalp222146 3,240,396 3/1966 Friedenberg 222146 3,263,744 8/1966 MacKeown222-146 3,292,823 12/1966 Weidman et al 222146 WALTER SOBIN, PrimaryExaminer.

